+….from sin:
Initially , we need to know what is sin ?! According to the Bible , Saint John the beloved says in his first letter ” Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness ” ( 1 John 3:4 ) . And the lawlessness here is in fact a violation against God , either by disobeying his will or by trespassing on his humanly image whether this violation was against oneself or against others . lawlessness has it’s consequences and punishment under the fair Divine judgment . The Bible says ” For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ( Romans 6:23). And here we see how death entered into the human race because of sin ” Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation ” ( Romans 5:18 ) . Not only that , but sin came as a master that controls who falls into it turning him to a slave , whether he wanted or not . This is the word of God for all humanity ” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.( John 8:34 ) …” so that as sin reigned in death ” ( Romans 5:21) Take an example from the Old Testament , Samson , being filled with the power of the spirit of God to save his people from the Palestinians . but when he fell into the lust of the flesh and impurity , God left him . ” Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. ” ( Judges 16:21) . In the New Testament , Jesus tells us about the prodigal son , how sin led him into slavery , and how he cringed that maybe one of the pigs would give him a chance to eat from what those unclean animals eat . ” But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.” ( Luke 15:14,16) . Sin kills , whatever your health , strength or youth were , eventually it will kill . The flesh is from dust and to the dust it will return . That is what the Lord told Adam when he sinned : ” In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” ( Genesis 3:19) . We have seen Methuselah , he lived all these years but at the end he died ” So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died. ( Genesis 5:27) . We also have to know that different diseases infested the human race as a result of sin which results in death . And Satan used it to tempt humans as with Jobs , but God heals . ” For I am the Lord who heals you ” ( Exodus 15:26). Sin causes sorrow , sadness and all sorts of psychiatric illnesses . Listen to David crying : “ How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? ( Psalms 13:2). If we recall the brother who fell into the sin of adultery with his father’s wife in Corinthians , and how Saint Paul punished him through the church lest he might return and repent , and return to the company of believers . We read about his psychological condition described by Saint Paul to see the effect of sin ” This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. ” ( 2 Corinthian 6,7). As for the Spirit ; sin is behind it’s eternal damnation . ” Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” ( Psalm 140:11)….” It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. ( Proverbs 21:15). Therefore , God warned us to repent from sin ” I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke13:3).
+ He freed and redeemed us:
To be freed from sin is to be unleashed from it’s Control , it’s price and all it’s consequences . The first thing that you should know Is that there is no salvation from sin without Christ to whom is all glory , and saint Peter testified in front of all saying ” Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” ( Acts 4:12). It is perhaps surprising that the Lord not only liberates but gave believers authority and dominion over sin and it’s deadly impacts , also over Satan . ” and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons ” ( Mark 3:14,15). God give his children this power to show his authoritative power to overcome sin and destroy it . ” And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ” ( Acts 5:12,15) My beloved , I bring good news , the Salvation of the Lord , to those who believe in His Son and His Holy Spirit , the Lord Jesus Christ Himself came to this world in flesh from virgin Mary and died with and for us on the cross , and rose up from the dead for our salvation and by doing this : ” has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel ” ( 2Timothy 1:10)…. And for the soul which was destroyed by sin , which lived in depression , sadness and lack of peace , as the scripture has said : “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” ( Isaiah 48:22). The Lord has delivered us from this devastating impact on oneself when he said to us : ” Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ” ( John 14:27) . We live in God’s peace ” and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ( Philippians 4:7). From this standpoint , we rejoice unhindered because the Lord has delivered us from sin and death . ” Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ( Philippians 4:4). But what about our sad reality And our continuous fall into sin ?! We say with the apostle John ” If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ( 1John 1:8). But he continues opening the door of repentance , confession and communion for forgiveness and purification . ” If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ( 1John 1:9). My dearest reader come with me to listen to John in Revelation in his dialogue with one of the twenty four elders ” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know. So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ( Revelation 7:13,14). Washed their robes refers to believing in Jesus Christ and baptism , made them white in the blood is the work or repentance , confession and communion given for us for remission of sin and eternal life to those who partake him Amen.
Written By Fr. Antonios Zikry November 2012